Sextant

Discussion in 'All Things Boats & Boating' started by SheetWise, May 19, 2011.

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  1. SheetWise
    Joined: Jul 2004
    Posts: 279
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    Location: Phoenix

    SheetWise All Beach -- No Water.

    Hoytedow --

    Thanks for your interest. She took it with her over the summer (we live in Phoenix) to Alaska. She stayed in Homer on Kachemak Bay, but she couldn't get a horizon from the bay, so she gave up on the sextant and studied the celestial navigation guides. Since then, I found an artificial horizon that fits -- and she still has interest, so we'll see.

    In the big picture, as far as the daughter goes -- beautifully!
     
    SheetWise, Dec 10, 2011
    #31
  2. hoytedow
    Joined: Sep 2009
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    Location: Control Group

    hoytedow Carbon Based Life Form

    hoytedow, Dec 11, 2011
    #32
  3. michael pierzga
    Joined: Dec 2008
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    Location: spain

    michael pierzga Senior Member

    On shore a good artificial horiozon is an oil filled paint can. Divide the angle by 2 to get sextant altitude . This is how we learned to take elevations as kids.
     
    michael pierzga, Dec 11, 2011
    #33
  4. SheetWise
    Joined: Jul 2004
    Posts: 279
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    Location: Phoenix

    SheetWise All Beach -- No Water.

    Thanks for the links (and links that lead to more links ...) I'll pass it on.

    I've seen that Mark775 claims Homer as home. That town started, for us, as a summer destination about 15 years ago, and now half of my family live up there -- including parents, sister, brother, and daughter. The other half just visit for the summers. It's becoming highly likely that I'll be retiring somewhere near there if I ever want to see the kids. I love that town.
     
    SheetWise, Dec 11, 2011
    #34
  5. bernd1972
    Joined: Mar 2011
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    Location: Laboe, Germany

    bernd1972 Holzwurm

    Go get her a Cassens & Plath with full view horizon mirror when she graduates from naval academy. It´s probably the best celestial instrument currently on the market and will certainly be availeable for decades to come, spare parts included. Tamaya has an artificial horizon (for "dry" training only) that fits all sextants that are based on the old C.Plath designs (which also includes the Astra, Tamaya and Cassens & Plath sextants and the older Russian SMPO)
    If you need her current sextants horizon mirror re-silvered check navastro.fr
     
    bernd1972, Dec 13, 2011
    #35

  7. SheetWise
    Joined: Jul 2004
    Posts: 279
    Likes: 54, Points: 0, Legacy Rep: 658
    Location: Phoenix

    SheetWise All Beach -- No Water.

    Thanks for the info. This is such an obscure topic these days, that I'm certain all comments and suggestions will survive well into the future. Thanks to all contributors.

    The thread Hoyedow links to above has evolved into a classroom on celestial navigation, and would be the proper place to continue this discussion.

    Thank you all again for your comments.
     
    SheetWise, Dec 13, 2011
    #36
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